GMAT/GRE

The admissions committee takes into consideration your highest test score. The Tuck application allows students to report all valid GMAT and/or GRE test scores taken within the last five years. If you have scored better on one test in the verbal section and better on the other in the quantitative section, we will consider your highest quantitative and highest verbal scores. We will not, however, combine scores from different tests to create a new total score.

We require that you submit your self-reported GMAT or GRE scores, so you should plan to take the test in enough time to receive a score to self-report. Please note that you do not need to submit an official GMAT or GRE score with your application. This step is required only for admitted students, who have 30 days from the date of enrollment to submit their official score reports. Test scores an applicant self-reports must be valid as of the date they apply. If test scores will expire prior to October 1 for Round 1 applicants, January 14 for Round 2 applicants, or April 8 for Round 3 applicants, the applicant must email us their name and applicant ID so Admissions can pull their official test score report.

Taking and submitting the results for both tests is up to you. Submitting both test results does not adversely or positively affect your candidacy. If you have taken both tests and wish to include them in your application you must self-report both scores on the application. If you submit your application with the results of one of the tests (GMAT or GRE) and later take the other test, you may not add the new score to your submitted application. GMAT and GRE test results must not be more than five years old. If you have taken the test(s) multiple times please report all valid scores taken within the last five years.

All candidates with a bachelor's degree from an accredited undergraduate institution are encouraged to apply to Tuck. There are no minimum GMAT, GRE or GPA scores required. Refer to our class profile to see the statistics regarding last year's incoming class. However, we encourage you to consider the ranges, not just the averages, to realize the diversity of successful applicants for admission.

Tuck seeks applicants who possess outstanding academic abilities. The GMAT score is just one of the many criteria we consider. When evaluating a candidate's ability to handle the coursework at Tuck, we consider the following: prior academic performance, the results of the GMAT or GRE, results of the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language™), IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or PTE (Pearson Test of English Academic) (if applicable), the nature of past coursework, and the nature of the applicant's professional experience.

Tuck does not have a minimum GMAT or GRE score requirement — admitted students have a range of scores. But if you do not score well on any part of the GMAT or GRE, we encourage you to take the exam again in an effort to improve your score.

Transcripts

No. Tuck seeks qualified applicants from all backgrounds, including those who do not have traditional business experience. If you do not have previous exposure to quantitative concepts, you may take classes in the following areas to help prepare for the rigors of Tuck's curriculum: microeconomics, financial accounting, statistics, finance, and Excel.

Tuck accepts the TOEFL® (Test of English as a Foreign Language™), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), and the PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic) to demonstrate English proficiency. All nonnative English speakers must self report results (scores and percentiles, if applicable) from either the TOEFL®, IELTS or the PTE Academic. This requirement is waived for applicants who have recently lived for at least three years in an English-speaking country or who received a degree from an institution outside the U.S. where instruction is in English. It is not necessary to seek our pre-approval or submit documentation to prove eligibility for this waiver. Results must not be more than two years old. For information on how to register for the TOEFL exam. Visit www.ets.org/toefl for information on registering for the TOEFL, and use code 3351 to send TOEFL scores to us. Visit www.pearsonpte.com for information on registering for the PTE. Visit www.ielts.org for information on registering for the IELTS and use Dartmouth College, Tuck School of Business to send your IELTS score to us.

Yes. You must scan and upload transcripts that include course names, course numbers, dates, grades, courses taken pass/fail, incomplete courses, and dropped courses from every undergraduate institution at which you have taken courses and received a grade.

If you attended institutions other than those from which your degrees were granted, you will be required to scan and upload your academic transcripts from each institution (transfer coursework, domestic or study-abroad programs, post-graduate non-degree coursework, etc.). You will be required to scan and upload a copy of the academic transcript issued by the institution(s) from which you obtained your undergraduate (bachelor’s or first) degree and any advanced/graduate degrees. If your transcript is not in English, you must scan and upload a copy of it that has been translated into English.

Request letters of reference (LORs) from two people who can comment on your qualifications for Tuck’s admissions criteria. The best letters come from references who can demonstrate that you are smart, nice, accomplished and aware. If possible, your current direct supervisor should write one of your LORs. If you cannot provide an LOR from a direct supervisor, include a brief explanation in the optional essay section. LORs from professors who did not supervise professional work, family members or personal acquaintances do not enhance your candidacy.

Your reference must be the sole author of your LOR. Drafting, writing, or translating your own reference, even if asked to do so by your reference, violates Tuck’s admissions policies and Tuck’s Academic Honor Principle. You are responsible for informing your references of this policy.

References who cannot write in English may write in a native language and have the LOR translated by an outside translation service. Do not translate the LOR into English for your reference.

You are responsible for notifying your references of your application deadline and ensuring your LORs are submitted on time. We review your application only if both LORs are received by your application deadline. Otherwise, we will move your application to the next admission round. If you would like to make changes to your list of references, please contact us at tuck.admissions@dartmouth.edu.

Application process

No. An essential part of our MBA program is the two-year experience of being a member of the Tuck community. It is this shared experience that makes the Tuck MBA program unique. The Tuck experience is unique not only in its curricular aspects, but also by the relationships that students build with their peers, the faculty, and the administrators. Only a full two years will allow our students to experience and fully appreciate this singularity.

We do not require that candidates hold a bachelor’s degree in order to be considered for admission. We do give very, very strong preference to applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, and it will be extraordinarily rare for an offer of admission to an applicant without a bachelor’s degree. However, a lack of a bachelor’s degree is not automatically disqualifying for candidates who can otherwise demonstrate unusual and extraordinary proficiency across our four criteria.

We do not typically admit applicants who have already earned an MBA. If you hold a similar graduate degree that is not an MBA, use the optional essay to explain why you need an MBA in addition to your prior degree. We consider the Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) from Indian universities to be the equivalent of an MBA and typically do not admit applicants who have earned this degree.

In general Tuck does not offer admission to applications with less than 2-years of professional work experience. On average, Tuck students have five years of full-time work experience before entering Tuck, but given the broad range of experience in each class, it is the quality, not the quantity, of an applicant's experience that is relevant in the evaluation process.

It is to your advantage to apply as early as you are ready. The admissions committee cannot predict the quality of future applications, and is therefore inclined to admit well-qualified applicants early in the process. In addition, early application ensures that you will receive a decision earlier. However, it is important not to rush your application. We encourage you to take the time necessary to submit a thoughtful, well-prepared application. Regardless of the round in which your application has been submitted, the admissions committee will give full and fair consideration to your candidacy. Regardless of which round you intend to apply in, we recommend submitting your completed application a day or two prior to the published deadline, which may help to alleviate the anxiety that often accompany last-minute submissions.

Waitlist

The size of our waitlist varies from year to year. In recent years, we have extended waitlist offers to more than 100 candidates. This size fluctuates as candidates are admitted from the waitlist, update us about their plans for the upcoming year, or decide to remove themselves from the waitlist.

The number of applicants admitted from the waitlist varies from year to year as it is dependent on the applicant pool, enrollment from early rounds, and the quality of applications from later rounds. Our waitlist offer means that we consider you a legitimate candidate for admission to Tuck in an upcoming round.

The Admissions Committee will review your application again in each subsequent application round. You may be offered admission, your waitlist status may be extended, or you may be released and encouraged to reapply next year.

We provide application feedback to waitlisted candidates after May. In select cases at our discretion, we may contact you before May to offer feedback. However, we cannot accommodate requests for feedback until May. You are neither required nor encouraged to request feedback before May.

This will be a pause in our communication. We acknowledge this may feel unusual and uncomfortable. Please know that this pause does not mean we are forgetting your candidacy, or presuming that your interest in attending Tuck has diminished. We will consider you for admission in each upcoming application round, which requires additional evaluation. In the interim, please take time to reflect on your application. If you have significant updates to your candidacy, please share them by writing to the Tuck Admissions email address.

Our financial aid colleagues will work individually with all candidates who are admitted from the waitlist. There is no required action to take before then. If you have additional questions, please write to the Tuck financial aid office at tuck.financial.aid@dartmouth.edu. Last year, 66% of Tuck students applied for financial aid.

We at Tuck affirm both our unwavering support of our international students and our commitment to global engagement. International students make up nearly one third of current students at Tuck, and their diversity of experiences, ideas, and dreams enriches learning and the lives of their classmates in countless ways.

While uncertainty remains, so does Tuck’s commitment to maintaining a talented, diverse, and globally-engaged student body. As the situation continues to evolve, rest assured that we will stay up to date on developments that could impact our international applicants and the broader Tuck community. More information is available through Dartmouth's Office of Visa and Immigration Services.

International applicants may apply in any round; however, for applicants who cannot secure a U.S. visa by August 1, admission may be deferred to the following year. U.S. visa eligibility forms will be made available to all accepted international students. These forms cannot be processed until the student has paid his/her enrollment deposit. Verification of financial support is required for all enrolling international students. Tuck provides assistance in facilitating the U.S. visa process through the Dartmouth Office of Visa and Immigration Services (OVIS). Please visit Dartmouth's Office of Visa and Immigration Services for further details.

Over one-third of Tuck’s student body is international and Tuck’s Ambassador Program helps international applicants easily connect with current students. We encourage you to reach out to an Ambassador.

Tuck is unable to sponsor individual visits to campus and may only support students who have been admitted to and plan to enroll at the school. When you register online for an interview or spring term visit you will receive a confirmation email with your name and the date and time of your scheduled visit.

If you are not quite ready to apply during this application cycle, but would like to visit the campus, we offer class visits without an interview during the spring term only. While we would like to provide this option throughout the year, limited classroom seating requires us to give priority to applicants who are also interviewing while on campus. We ask that you please support this effort by not registering for a visit only, until the spring term when you may sign up for a class visit, lunch, tour and Q&A session with an Admissions Officer. You may also attend one of our recruiting events throughout the year.

We also request that your interview be completed during the same application cycle in which you are applying.

We put a lot of effort into providing a comprehensive visitation program for all visitors. In addition to the scheduled interview, applicants will have an opportunity to attend a lunch and campus tour with current students, as well as a Q&A session with a member of the admissions team. Depending on availability, there is also an opportunity for prospective students to visit a first-year core class (prospective students cannot choose which class they will attend). If you are not sure about applying to Tuck, or you are not planning to apply during the current cycle, please visit us during the spring term and attend a class without an interview. You may also attend one of our recruiting events throughout the year.

Our renowned small class sizes limit the number of visitors we can accommodate. Depending on availability, prospective students accompany first-year student hosts to class. By sitting in on first-year classes, prospective students can gain firsthand insight into the rigors of the core curriculum. Also, the opportunity to observe a class allows you to gain a sense of the total first-year Tuck experience—allowing you to appreciate the demands and benefits of our residential MBA program. Please note that we do not offer class visits on Fridays, except in September.

There are only two class visit times: 8:30am and 10:20am. Your class visit time will depend on the time you choose to interview.

Class visits are available Monday – Thursday with a few exceptions. You will not be able to select the class you will attend, as prior arrangements are made with the professor and only certain classes are available for visitors.

Please be on time for your interview, since being late may impact your class visit. Class visits are hosted by current students, so it’s important that you are prepared to meet with your host at least ten minutes prior to your designated class visit time. Being late for your interview could prevent you from participating in a class visit since prospective students are required to be in the classroom prior to the start of class.

If you are considering bringing your partner with you to campus, your partner is more than welcome to attend all events except for your interview and class visit. Please email us the following information at least one week prior to your visit: your partner's first name, last name and the date that you are registered to interview.

If you have any questions regarding partner and family life at Tuck please let us know.

Scheduling an Interview

All interviews are scheduled through our online system, which you can view on our Search Events/Interviews page. All interviews are available on a first-come, first-served basis and tend to book quickly. We invite you to schedule your interview as soon as possible.

Applicants cannot request an off-campus, virtual or alumni interview. If you are not able to interview on-campus, your application will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. After reviewing your application the committee may decide to invite you for an interview. Invitational interviews may be offered either on-campus or virtually. It's important to note that not all candidates will be invited for an interview and there are no specific beginning or end dates for interview invitations.

The Admissions Office puts a great deal of time and effort into making sure that each individual has the best possible visit by scheduling meetings with current students and Admissions Officers. While we encourage all applicants to make the most of their visit to Tuck, due to the high volume of visitors we cannot accommodate special requests such as meetings with professors, Research Centers, or student groups.

Admissions Officers are not able to meet individually with prospective students. They are however, more than happy to answer questions during the scheduled Q&A session.

Interview Details

No, however, we invite interested applicants to take advantage of our open interview policy. Tuck offers all applicants the opportunity to interview on campus in Hanover. Interviews are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, so request an interview as soon as you decide to apply. If you have not been able to interview by the deadline, the admissions committee may invite you to interview if they feel it is necessary. Because we cannot invite all applicants to interview, if you would like to guarantee an interview, you should schedule an on-campus interview. Tuck does not conduct student-initiated interviews off campus.

No. You may interview prior to submitting your application. Actually, many applicants find it helpful to interview early so that they can experience Tuck’s unique environment first-hand and still have time to make edits to their essays before clicking submit.

Interviews on campus are scheduled primarily with admissions associates (second-year students) and occasionally with members of the admissions committee. Off-campus interviews with an admissions committee member or admissions associate are scheduled by invitation only. The name of your interviewer will not be given prior to your interview date and time. All interviews are evaluated equally, regardless of location or interviewer.

We will ask questions that will help us assess your qualifications for our four criteria: smart, nice, accomplished, and aware. We believe these skills are essential for success not only in the Tuck MBA program, but also as a business leader.

Travel/Lodging

Free parking is available at Dewey Field Lot (37 Dewey Field Road, Hanover, NH 03755) with visitors parking in the A Lot. Please be aware that parking can be challenging at Dartmouth and at times there can be heavy traffic in Hanover. Plan ahead and allow yourself at least an extra 15 minutes to find parking and walk to Tuck. You may also opt to take the Advance Transit Shuttle which arrives and departs from this lot frequently (7:00am-10:00am every 10 minutes and from 10:00am-3:00pm every 30 minutes). Please make sure you check their schedule ahead of time if you wish to take the shuttle.

Once you have parked your car you must call the Dartmouth Parking Office and register your vehicle. Please call them at 603-646-2340 and leave a brief message with your name, where you are visiting, the vehicle make and color, as well as the license plate state and number. Not registering your car may result in a fine.

Important Note about Parking
Dewey Field Lot, Lot A is the only parking lot our visitors have permission to park in. If you park in a different parking lot, you may be subject to fines or required to move your car which could, in turn, make you late for your interview and/or class visit.

You may also opt to park in downtown Hanover where there are several lots offering hourly parking. Note that on-street meters are limited to two hour parking. All paid lots are owned by the town of Hanover. Tuck has no control over these lots and cannot reimburse you for parking charges.

The Dartmouth Coach travels directly to Hanover, NH from either Boston, MA (Logan Airport and South Station) or NYC (Wells Fargo Building, 150 East 42nd Street). The Coach arrives right in Hanover, NH and eliminates the need to rent a car. The bus stop is a short walk from Tuck, as well as from the two hotels (Hanover Inn and Six South St Hotel) in Hanover. Please note that the Dartmouth Coach is not owned or operated by Dartmouth College.

Renting a car to travel to Hanover will offer additional lodging options and scheduling flexibility. Please be aware that bus service in the area is limited and you will need to plan well in advance. Renting a car or taking the Dartmouth Coach bus service is often a better option.

Boston, MALogan Airport (120 minutes away)
Logan is the closest international airport and most convenient option since the Dartmouth Coach travels directly from Logan to Hanover, NH.

Manchester, NHManchester-Boston Regional Airport (80 minutes away)
From this airport you can rent a car and drive to Hanover or use either of the two shuttle services available; Upper Valley Shuttle or UVRide.

Lebanon, NHLebanon Municipal Airport (15 minutes away)
If you are flying into the Lebanon, NH airport please note that there are very limited public transit options. Please plan well in advance.

Due to the high volume of visitors each year Tuck does not provide accommodations. Due to the high volume of visitors each year, Tuck does not provide accommodations and current students are not able to host prospective students.

If you choose to take the Dartmouth Coach it would be most convenient to book a hotel room in Hanover. There are two options; the Hanover Inn and the Six South St Hotel. We suggest that you book a room at either of these options as soon as possible since they can sometimes fill up quickly. If they are already fully booked, the Courtyard by Marriott (Lebanon, NH) has a complimentary shuttle service to and from Dartmouth, and the Norwich Inn (Norwich, VT) is a short distance from an Advance Transit bus stop.